The way the first half of this game went, you’d think Michigan State didn’t have a chance. They found themselves down by 14 against Oregon but managed to storm back for the win. It took a full team effort, but Jase Richardson—who I’d been meaning to watch—carried the scoring load.

Oregon came out hot, thanks to Shelstad and Nate Bittle. Bittle started strong, making an impact on both ends of the court. He has a smooth three-point shot and the ability to protect the rim defensively. He showed off his shooting touch on a pick-and-pop play and made his presence felt on defense, swatting away a shot with authority.

As for Bittle’s flaws, speed is his biggest one—man, that boy is slow as molasses lol. He puts in the effort, but he’s just not quick. Guards blow past him, and it takes him a while to get up and down the court. I have a tough time seeing him make it to the next level.

On the other hand, Jase Richardson put on a show, dropping a career-high 29 points and displaying a full repertoire of shot-making skills. In the first half, he knocked down threes both off the catch and off the dribble. While he’s not the fastest or most athletic guard, he’s crafty, knows how to use his body to draw fouls, and gets to the free-throw line. He also showed great patience in the paint, snaking his way to mid-range jumpers.

The second half was where Richardson really shined, pulling off some absolutely beautiful shot-creating moves. The highlight? A nasty snatch-back hesitation that got him past his defender for a tough layup. And keep in mind, he was doing this against a strong, physical guard in TJ Bamba. He did take a couple of questionable shots, but when your game is working like his was, we can let that slide. On defense, he was active too, coming over for a help-side rejection that sent the ball into the seats.

Looking back at this performance, I was really impressed with Richardson’s ability to create for himself. Especially considering he’s not the fastest or most athletic guy, that’s the mark of a true scorer. As always, I’ll keep watching and assessing as the season goes on.